Langfang Beifengdao Garbage Transfer Station / Atelier Ingarden

Architects: Atelier Ingarden
Area: 105 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Yangyue Lin
Lead Architects: Liang Hao, Jia Wenruo
Engineering: Liaoning Jinbaisheng Wood Structure Technology Co., Ltd.
Construction: Zhang Guangyuan Construction Team
Clients: Langfang Environmental Sanitation Affairs Center
City: Lang Fang
Country: China

The Langfang Beifengdao Garbage Transfer Station by Atelier Ingarden, located on the outskirts of Langfang, Hebei, addresses two key goals: restoring neglected urban spaces and improving the functionality and image of garbage stations. Glulam wood was used for its sustainability and structural efficiency, ensuring a unified design without excessive decoration. The modular structure comprises seven units, each optimized for garbage truck parking, collection, and storage. The building features solid lower facades for privacy, angled upper sections for airflow, and a roof with sun panels and natural drainage. The project reintegrates the site into the city while enhancing operational efficiency and appearance through practical, cost-effective design.

Langfang beifengdao garbage transfer station / atelier ingarden

Located on the outskirts of Langfang, Hebei, the project site is bordered to the south by a newly developed high-rise commercial and residential district, while the north side remains vacant following a village demolition. Considering the site’s current conditions and functional needs, the design process began by posing two key questions that guided the project’s objectives: how to reintegrate this fragmented urban corner into the daily life of the city by restoring its micro-order, and whether fundamental architectural methods could be employed within a limited budget to greatly enhance both the operational efficiency and visual identity of urban micro-infrastructure.

With these objectives in mind, the design process began by selecting glulam as the primary material. This choice aimed to leverage wood’s eco-friendly qualities to counteract the traditionally negative perception of urban garbage stations. Moreover, the inherent beam-and-column construction logic of wood allowed for a cohesive integration of architecture, structure, and space. This approach avoided the prevalent “build first, decorate later” practice common in small local infrastructure projects and achieved an optimal balance between construction costs, spatial efficiency, and the final architectural outcome within the constraints of limited space and investment.

The building consists of modular construction units measuring 7800mm in width and 1800mm in length, organized into seven sequential units running from south to north. The chosen width of 7800mm optimizes the space for parking two garbage trucks side by side, while the depth of 1800mm provides an ideal operational workspace. The layout includes designated areas for garbage collection and transfer (spanning two units), the primary parking space for garbage trucks (occupying three units), and tool storage (comprising one unit). The building’s internal net height is set at 5500mm, with an additional structural height of 1200mm. This height specification accommodates the 5500mm clearance required for the complete loading and unloading process of garbage trucks.

The building’s east and west facades are constructed with plywood, divided into upper and lower sections to meet internal functional requirements. The lower section, measuring 2000mm in height, features vertically placed plywood panels between the columns without windows, aligning with the maximum height of parked garbage trucks. The upper section, at 3000mm high, has angled plywood panels designed to facilitate airflow and allow indirect natural light into the interior. The roof structure comprises European pine boards and galvanized sheets, with sun panel lighting windows positioned above the garbage truck parking area. Furthermore, eight elevated roof beams create seven distinct roof segments, enabling natural water drainage across the entire roof surface.

Upon completion, the project effectively addressed the two primary design challenges. The corner space was reorganized and seamlessly reintegrated into the urban fabric, while the garbage station improved both its operational efficiency and external image through the application of fundamental architectural strategies.